Delicious Steamworks brews and bites

You can refer to my explanation on the previous post about why you should visit steam-works brews, but of course I need to give examples of the food! So we ate three meals here, two for dinner and one for lunch why we left.

The first night I tried the plum infused Kolsh (cask beer). I wasn't too impressed. I don't get the whole cask thing: when they are trying to bring old school brewing back but this is a useless attempt because brewers have found much better techniques to store beer in modern day and age. There is a reason why they stopped storing in wooden barrels. Anyways, the Kolsh hardly had any plum flavor at all. Just a watery flat beer. The Lizard Head Red Ale was awesome though! It was so rounded with flavor and packed a punch.
That night I had the cornmeal crusted red trout with a cilantro-lime slaw and garlic mashed potatoes. I was stupid and thought it would be too dark to bring my camera along so no good pave photos, you just have to take my word.

Second night: I ordered the 3rd eye p.a. (very hoppy, almost some citrussy flavors, delicious also), and the gyro with a ceaser salad. The gyro was really good, the meat juicy and tender and the pita bread fresh. I know they had to have used pre-frozen meat because I've worked with it before. I still very much enjoyed it, and the salad was very different and inventive. The romaine was almost shredded because it was cut so thin. They garnished it with tiny roasted almonds that really gave it a nice texture and flavor element.

The third/last meal was probably the best. I ordered fish tacos that also had the cilantro-lime slaw and a Cuban aoili. Once again, I know there are slim chances of fish being fresh in Durango, but it still rocked. Two tacos and I was stuffed. Also, Thursdays are two dollar pint days! I had a different pale ale, and the steam engine lager which is very much like an amber ale in color and richness. Ziggy also enjoyed all of his meals, and actually ate almost everything. They serve the kids free ice cream as well, so he is the one who suggested we keep going back!

My tribute to Steamworks Brewery!

Zig and I took a mostly Zig vacation to Durango so we could ride the Durango-Silverton train. At first I was excited about trying some new restaurants, of course the center around almost all trips for us. After two disappointing meals, one at a supposive great pizzeria and another at the Irish embassy that has terrible Shepherd's Pie, we ended up having three meals at the Steamwork's Brewery in the 2 1/2 days we were there.

Durango has an exceptional brewer scene for such a small mountain town. These include Steamwork's which is by far the largest restaurant/brewery, Ska Brewing, Carver's, and Durango Brewery.

On our first night we headed over to Steamwork's, I really needed a awesome beer after driving three hours then swimming for a couple more hours at the Rec center. I wasn't expecting much as far as the experience. I know how the Brew Pub scene is, when food and service is usually an after thought to the beer. We were seated right away. There were many families, it was noisy, nothing I didn't expect, but when fifteen minutes floated by and we hadn't even been greeted by our server I'm thinking "Great, I knew it."

This is where I mentally put my foot in my mouth: The young woman who was our server came and apologized for our wait. This is usually good enough for me, I know how things get backed up without it being anyone fault really. I ordered a beer for myself and a milk for Zig. It took another ten minutes for her to come back with our drinks, and when they did she insisted she was would buy my beer that night. I'm thinking "Wow, that's awesome of her." It was about another ten-fifteen minutes for our food to arrive, and the supervisor personally brought us the food and apologized again for the wait and told us my entree was on the house as well. The server kept apologizing, and made sure we had everything we needed.

I have never really received this great of service when things started getting backed up for a restaurant, especially at my local brewery. I usually don't even get an apology for the wait, let alone for multiple employees to go out of their way to make sure my dining experience was turned around. Steamwork's has won me over not along with awesome service, but delicious food and beer. They have taken pub food to the next level, where you can have higher class meal at an exceptional price.

Portland Day 5: Ziggy builds his first bear

Our amazing adventurous time in Portland is coming to a close. Today was our last day (besides a few hours tomorrow morning), before moving onto Seaside. Of course I wanted our last day to be amazing and memorable. I tried to rack my brain to think of last few things I just had to do before we left.

We went to sushi as a starter. I was going to go to the Portland famous 'Bamboo', but they were only open for dinner and I wanted to save that spot for something else. We ended up at Masu Sushi, a small but well established sushi bar at the beginning of Pearl District downtown. I ordered my favorites from sabaku: a spider roll (soft shell crab), and unagi maki (eel). I also decided to try the volcano roll, which has white fish, crab, in some sort of 'volcano' sauce that was sweet not spicy. The volcano roll was presented with a flame beside it, which was made by a cucumber pedestal holding ice and alcohol. Everything was also cooked, I think they must have used a blow torch on it. It was interesting because I have never had hot sushi. Sad to say, Sabaku back home in Moab still beats them in taste and presentation.

We did some shopping downtown again. Zach found a few used vinyls for a cheep price. I went into Penzey's spice store and entered heaven. They had so many different kinds of spice blends, dried herbs, etc. etc. I did not know what to get because there was so much i wanted. I decided on some that I could not find very well in Moab, including Szechuan peppercorns and anise seed.

Then we went into Cacoa, an amazing chocolate shop! I want one near us sooooo bad. They had a variety of fine chocolate bars, a case full of truffles, and a drink menu that included chocolate coffee drinks and drinking chocolate. I had a chocolate macchiato that was perfect. I want to go back and try the chocolate-cinnamon drink.

 We took Danzig out to Washington Square: a giant mall in beaverton about twenty minutes away so he could build his first bear. I've built a few bears in my time, so we were both super excited. He picked out the black bear, and dressed him up as a "ninja". He is confused about his name but assured us it was a boy bear.

O, and also I found my Rogue bacon maple ale!

Before dinner we stoppped by the tasting room at the Upright Brewery. They are a local and very small Portland Brewery that sells their beer in local bottle stores. I wanted badly to have a taste at the tasting room last time but couldn't obviously, I was only twenty. There is nothing bad to say about that place, the beer is amazing.

We went for Toro Bravo as our last dinner in Moab. It is a Spanish inspired tapas restaurant. It is not really ethnic food, but a very creative take on the culinary scene in Portland. I really loved having everything a la carte and being able to match my own food the way I wanted. We started with the fried potato salad w/peaches and arugula. That was definitely the best part of the meal. Then I had braised lamb w/ noodles which was also delicious. This was by far the best meal we have had in Portland, I was so impressed and I would love to cook for them.

Portland Day 4: Beer Beer Beer

At last, more beer consumption! We began with the Bridgeport Brewery for lunch located in the Pearl's historic brewing district. I ordered a seasonal spiced harvest ale, the Witch Hunt. Zach had some kind of ale similar to barley wine. I knew without a doubt I had to order the Cottage Pie made with stout braised beef. It was similar to Shepperd's Pie but only meat and potatoes. It was presented beautifully in miniature cast Iron and was super rich and delicious. I could not eat the whole thing though I tried.

Afterwards we his the Ground Kontrol Arcade, also in the Pearl. They have all these vintage arcade games and pinball machines. I was hurting for some Galager time, and was stoked to see they had Area 51, a first person shooter that I have played countless times through childhood restaurant visits.

 

I was craving some more food cart time, even though I was still stuff from cottage pie. I order not just a gyro, but a super gyro, from a Greek stand. Yes I only ate a few bites, It was a monster. Of course it was delicious. There was so much lamb in it! 

Another restaurant I've been wanting to try is Vindalho, a popular Indian restaurant on the hipster scene. This was the first time I did not feel stupid for making reservations-it was packed! Everyone was socializing, laughing, and genuinely having a good time (well not everyone but we won't go there). I started with a Mint Julep which was a very good size drink. I could do with a little less fresh mint floating around in the glass, it became hard to avoid swallowing most of it. We both got Honey Cumin chicken wings and I also ordered mussels steamed in coconut milk. Both plates were delicious. The mussels just melted in my mouth.

Portland day 2: A day for play

We started off with The Country Cat, a place I have not eaten but have dreamed of eating and even dreamed of doing my future externship from culinary school too. The country cat was opened after to chefs met in culinary school. He's the butcher, and she makes the sweet yummies.I do not know how else to describe it but that it serves strait up delicious southern cuisine with Portland's fresh ingredient scene. They serve brunch and dinner, the brunch consisting of fried chicken with maple syrup, chicken fried steak with Worcestershire gravy, eggs Benedict, and so on.You can probably tell what i ordered.

My plate was only 12 bucks or so. Holy crap that was a big chicken fried steak. I haven't seen anything like it since going to a real black eyed peas down in texas. The bacon was the icing on the cake. It was just freaking delicious: Thick cut, with a tad bit of pepper and a hint of maple. The Country Cat is also in a more mellow part of town (Stark St.). We found parking easily right across the street from the restaurant, and inside the cat had a reasonable crowd. I would of course go again, and now dream of trying the Eggs Benedict.

We then headed of to Ziggy's day: The Children's Museum. My friend Cat told me about this place but I didn't realize how bad ass it was and how much fun Ziggy would have. The parking lot was pretty crazy because it is located right next to the zoo, but we got lucky and got in fast.Some of the exhibits including a building room with giant Lincoln logs and blocks, a water works center, a grocery store and the "butterfly bistro", an animal hospital, and the dig pits.

I am happy he had so much and we had a lot of fun playing with him. I admit I was little pushy for him to go to the grocery store and bistro, other then that I was on my best behavior.
We wrapped after the night with a trip to the Hop and vine bottle shop where we picked out glorious barrel aged nectar.

At last we stopped at Fratelli's, an Italian restaurant located in the heart of the Pearl District. It was relaxing and delicious. The server was very kind and on top of things, meaning he did not take forever. I started with wine and antipasti: a bruchette with caper mascarpone, house cured salmon, and pickled red onion. Wow it was amazing, and actually better then the shrimp fettuchini I ordered. I wished I would have just ordered bruchetta for dinner.

 

All in all a relaxing, well deserved meal. 

Portland: Day 1

Well the 18 hour drive is over...for now. Our dinner reservations were made for 7 o'clock, so when we were passing through hood river we knew we had to stop at Full Sail once again for lunch and refreshments. For those of you who have been living under a rock, or just Mormon, full sail is a famous independent brewery, shipping their godlike nectar all over the nation.

I couldn't handle a full on pint so early in the afternoon, so me and Zach vouched for one of their two sampler trays: the reserve that contained special brews of different brew-masters as well as their delicious barley wine I have not been able to find anywhere else but the restaurant itself. I also really enjoyed the Belgian ale that utilized smoked hops. The food was also amazing, and much better then the ribs I had the first time I went there. I had a rueben with brisket and bacon. I'm drooling again....

For dinner we went to a restaurant and meat shop: The Laurelhurst market. I am a little ashamed to admit it was one of the most anticipated restaurants of the vacation, but certainly should not be the best. The environment was relaxing and the smells were wonderful, but by new york strip did not deliver and nothing better then I could have gotten at Jeffery's back in Moab. I was honestly disappointed they cut if before serving it to me and the flavor was just not there. However, the potatoes (Roasted French Fingerling Potatoes -- Black Garlic, Hazelnuts, Basil) were amazing, and the boys enjoyed their dinner. 

We wrapped up the night with the talk of the town ice cream shop: Salt & Straw. Salt & Straw serves only fresh homemade ice cream using seasonal local ingredients all the while coming up with some wacky flavors. I have been excited to try the Chevre Malonberry Habanero Jam flavor which turned out amazing. I wish it had been a little more spicy but it's hard to find others in the west with a palate like mine. Danzig had the strawberry ice cream w/ balsamic glaze. Luckily we didn't have to wait for an hour, and the line was much more mellow then Voodoo Doughnuts.